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Panama Esmeralda Estate Blue Label Geisha Washed - Flavor Profile, Origin Region, and Brewing Parameters

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional barista discussion - Follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat: cafe_style). Geisha features rich sweetness, exceptionally clean mouthfeel, and complex aromas ranging from berries and citrus to mango, papaya, and peach. A distinct bergamot-like aftertaste is also a characteristic cupping attribute. To date, Geisha has consistently been one of the most celebrated coffee varieties

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The Essence of Geisha Coffee

Geisha boasts a full-bodied sweetness, an exceptionally clean mouthfeel, and rich aromas that extend from berries and citrus notes to mango, papaya, and peach flavors. A distinctly pronounced bergamot-like aftertaste is also one of its characteristic cupping attributes. To date, Geisha has remained the champion among coffee varieties.

Panama: A Premier Coffee Region

Panama represents one of the most important territories on the world coffee map. Each year, auction beans from this region fetch prices exceeding hundreds of dollars.

Award-Winning Records

(The following are the award records of Hacienda La Esmeralda:)

Champion, Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Annual Cupping Competition
1st Place Specialty Coffee Association of America Roasters Guild Cupping Pavilion
Second Place, Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Annual Cupping Competition
2nd Place Coffee of the Year
Champion, Best of Panama
1st Place "Best of Panama"
Champion, Rainforest Alliance Coffee Quality Cupping Competition
1st Place Rainforest Alliance for Quality

Brewing Instructions

Hand-poured Blue Label. Use 15g of coffee, ground to medium-fine consistency (Fuji Royal's "Ghost Tooth" grinder setting 3.5), with a V60 dripper. Water temperature at 91-93°C. First pour 30g of water for a 27-second bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops halfway, then continue pouring slowly until reaching 225g total. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio of 1:15. Total extraction time: 2:00.

Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda)

Country: Panama
Grade: Blue Label
Region: Slopes of Barú Volcano
Roast Level: Light Roast
Processing Method: Washed
Variety: Geisha
Estate: Hacienda La Esmeralda
Flavor Notes: Oolong tea, peach, honey

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha Coffee Beans

Origin: Panama
Region: Located on the slopes of Barú Volcano, Panama's highest peak in the western region
Estate: Hacienda La Esmeralda
Grade: Blue Label
Growing Altitude: 1450m
Processing Method: Fine washed processing
Special Certification: Rainforest Alliance Certified
Roast Level: Light roast (city-)

The Panama Coffee Auction

What exactly is the Panama coffee auction? In 1996, during the lowest period of international coffee prices, seven coffee estates in the Boquete and Volcan regions saw the dawn of the specialty coffee era. They organized and formed the renowned Panamanian Association of Special Coffees of Panama (SCAP). In 2013, the highest bid in the BOP washed Geisha category exceeded $160 per pound, while the natural Geisha category's highest bid was won by a natural Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda at over $350 per pound.

Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha Brands

Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha has three brands, divided by altitude:

Auction Geisha (ESMERALDA SPECIAL) (Red Label), specially selected from altitudes above 1,550 meters
Boquete Geisha (Green Label), specially selected Geisha from 1,500 meters
(ESMERALDA 1,500) (Blue Label), specially selected Geisha varieties from around 1,500 meters altitude

The History of Geisha Coffee

The Geisha variety was discovered in 1931 from the Geisha forest in Ethiopia and then sent to the Coffee Research Institute in Kenya. In 1936, it was introduced to Uganda and Tanzania, and in 1953, Costa Rica began cultivating it. For a long time, Geisha didn't receive much attention until one day, Don Pachi first brought it from the small town of GESHA in southwestern Ethiopia to Costa Rica. Later, Geisha traveled along the southern route into Panama. Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama separated it from other varieties and won the national coffee competition championship.

Geisha is pronounced similarly to the Japanese word "geisha," so it's also known as "Geisha coffee." Because the tree variety is taller than typical coffee trees, it was originally planted in a small area within the estate and used as a windbreak. The owner's son, seeking to participate in the annual "Best of Panama" competition, tested all coffee varieties throughout the estate, giving Geisha its opportunity to shine. Later, it participated in various world coffee competitions, winning a total of eleven championships.

Flavor Profile

Oolong tea fragrance, peach aroma, and honey notes create a refreshing and comfortable experience that is both bright and balanced. The layered aroma is exceptionally rich, with the entire fragrance enveloped in caramel sweetness. Upon entry, the tongue experiences distinct fruit acidity, which then becomes gentle and smooth in the mouth. The fruit sweetness and aftertaste are intense, like drinking a cup of fresh fruit tea that refreshes the heart and mind. As the temperature decreases, the acidity becomes more refined. The lingering finish is remarkably persistent, bringing immense satisfaction!